What is it about 'African Violets' that is so fascinating??

Alas! Can somebody tell my why the African Violet Forum has so many posts?

http://davesgarden.com/nl.php?date=2006-03-02

It didn't used to be this way.

Are they that much more interesting than daylilies, for instance?

Just wondering (and don't want to go investigate myself-- as pretty as AVs are!) t.

They are a very helpful and chatty bunch, willing to share not only information and hints but actual plants! A great group of people. Maybe this question would fare better in the Parking Lot forum? Also us northern gardeners are indoors right now so there is more talk about indoor plants on the boards :)

-Kim

Well, I forgot about the Parking Lot Forum with so many forums to keep track of. I did think of the Garden Talk Forum but that seems dead.

Anyway, I thought maybe Dave just knew some other site closed down and all the posters moved to DG, or something like that. A couple of seasons ago nobody seemed to post on the AV Forum (when I was into AVs!) .

Gee, well I would have thought the same thing, but it isn't all about the AV's and gessies we grow, but we are a group of folks who love to talk about our plants with one another. Share what we have, trade and support new and experienced growers alike.

The camaraderie is like no other forum I've ever been to. I'd hang out even if I never grew another violet, which is about where I was when I stopped by. Then the took me under their wing and send me violets (thanks Ali!) and coaxed me until I was successful and then cheered me when I had successes.

They give freely of their time, knowledge, plants and friendship. Can't beat that!

Come hang out for a while, prop your feet up on the couch, no one will fuss at you over it, and by the time you leave, you'll be hooked again, or at least want to come hang out again! =)

African viollets are the number one grown houseplant world wide.
Their fun and easy to grow. Easy to share making it possible to make friends all around the WORLD !
African violets bloom year round. Their cheery and friendly plants just like their growers ! I noticed when I first joined there were not many posting on the African violet forum. I'm so Happy we have a caring bunch of Chatty African violet ( and all Gesneriad ) lovers Happy to share their knowledge, and mistakes so we can all learn from each other ! African violets are the most fun easy plant to grow and even more fun to share ! Share pictures, knowledge, mistakes, questions about, answers , and more ! Everyone should grow by leaf at least a few ! Then you always have babies plants to share with others and to trade !
Not to mention growing by leaf, giving life each new baby amazes me.
Keep growing and sharing everyone !
My goal is to see everyone grow Av's by leaf or gessies or seeds, and join in the JOY of Sharing them.
They will bring smiles into your days and into others lives too !

I am a newbie to violets and to the AV forum I have to say that it is my favourite place to hang out. It is the first place I check early in the morning and just before I go to sleep. Not counting all my visits during the day. Every spare time I have I am there.

They are the best peeps I have ever met, in or outside the net. I am new to America, so, not many friends around. They filled that place and I don't feel so lonely anymore.

Growing AV is like therapy to me. It has made me a happier peep as well.

Well I must agree and say this is the first place I go to when I open DG! Everyone is so friendly and we have wonderful experts who are always ready to lend a helping hand!

I appreciate this site and each and every one on it!

And any plant person is a loving, caring person and I know I enjoy watching these babies grow and learning all about new ones.

I have learned so much in the short time I found this site!

Now tabasco...you will just have to keep checking in and before you know it...you will be hooked too....LOL!

I also appreciate the photos!

Thanks!!!

Joanne

They are the best bunch of people! It's like one big family over there. I bounce around alot but my two favorite 'homes' are the AV Forum and the Northeast forum.

One thing African Violets are Beautiful beautiful and reasonably easy to grow. Did I say they were beautiful?

the thing with AVs and gesneriads generally is that they propagate so fast, it's not long before you start looking for ways to share the love..... The gesneriad family is really quite diverse - from AVs, to rock garden plants, to micro minis that are full size at the size of a quarter, to big big fat tubers, to rhizomatous ones that die back every so often, to everblooming (pretty much) AVs.... Lots of fun and something for everyone.

See, you all are so chatty now you're overflowing into Dave's Forum!

LOL

I'll have to try to revive my AVs and stop in there once in a while! (-:

I guess Dave doesn't have African Violets.

Hello all,

I saw this forum and thought I would respond, because as of last
summer, I thought AV were pretty, and that was about the extent of it.

Having purchased a few over the years, it quickly became "the dead thing"
in the bathroom, kitchen, wherever I placed it.

At the end of last summer's farmer's market, an AV seller walked up, handed
me a beautiful AV with an instruction sheet and said "You're welcome."

Only after he left did I try to give it away to someone else, and every one of
the responses was the same as mine..."I'll kill it."

Sure enough, it came home with me to face a certain death. After struggling
along for a few months, my sister in law mentioned a self watering pot. A what?

Needless to say, if you are an AV killer like me, a self watering pot is the answer.
It blooms, it looks beautiful and it is actually growing!

As for the question above, "Are they that much more interesting than daylilies?"
I have speak only for myself...no, only because I've spent my wad a
few times over on daylilies, and AV is just one more addictive habit from
which I'd better steer clear. ;-)

Sign me,
A killer no more.

Welcom no longer a killer...{standing in front of everyone} My name is Anita and I'm an AVoholic.

But we give leaves away for postage or trade. (that's like FREE!) and when you see those little mouse ears pop up from a leaf you've grown all by your self, well it's just a thrill!

And one leaf can make several plants, and then you can keep one and trade the others for more! and then you put down some more leaves (or 500) and then you have more plants to trade, so in reality, one good $4 purchase can net a large collection over a pretty short period of time! and with over 20K to choose from there's got to be one you'll fall head over heels for!

As the AV group knows, i'm the over water queen, trick is, lighten your soil. Super market varieties tend to be in heavier soil than they like once in the home. come on WUVIE, come hang out with us a bit.

And if I can grow them (read stop killing them) then Anyone can grow them.

Tabasco !! I can't believe you've asked the very question that I've asked myself a few times. I keep expecting "pets" to be the most-posted-to forum, but it never is. I've even visited the AV forum to see what the big attraction is. And yes, I've seen all your names in there. I've even checked out all your faces!

You make it sound so easy here to grow them, but in the forum you talk about all the special stuff you have for growing them. I'm one of those who tried, and failed. They may not die, but they don't bloom. Guess I'll have to try again.

Nancy - all the frustration is worth it for that one bloom!

Okay, Anita. I WILL try again. The next time I see one for sale, I'll get it. Then I'll go back and read what to do with it.

Make sure you can find your way home.
Or just move in with Anita - she needs help too.

I think YOU need help too, Al. By the way, you've been hanging out in the NE forum, haven't you?

Wha.... me....?

You should try it - it beats AV any day.

I lurk.

lurkings for chickens, I share my wisdom with every forum I go in to.

When we moved to the country, I brought some of the houseplants I had babied along. African violets were among them. Then I took a look at the half acre around the house and tried to apply my limited gardening experience to it. Many weeks and many sore muscles later I noticed that the indoor plants were looking very sad. It has been three years and all I have left inside are three violets. They have starved, been thirsty and needed trimming up, but they are still there and currently they are all blooming. They are so forgiving of my neglect. I really love them and might even get another or so - after I get some more roses . . . . . That's why.

Come and visit us and see how fasinating we are..I mean African violets and Gessies Are :))
Bet you can't grow just on !

I wish I could grow AVs but they just end up croaking on me. I've tried so many times!!! I don't get it! My Grandmother has a whole window full of them and she doesn't do anything special for them yet they love her .....she admits to talking to them though!
I've lurked on the AV forum and me thinks you AV growers got some magic in your hands or something,lol.

Well, I think there are some great people on the AV forum right now who are willing to help us along to try to grow them.

So I'm going to try although I'm not so confident with them, either.

I did go to Big Lots this afternoon and purchased some pretty blue china pots to set the plastic pots in (I am sure there are some special requirements for the kind of pots to actually grow AVs in!).

That got me jazzed for my 'AV starter kit' Violet_T is sending off to me! (Bless her heart!)

Hope to see you all over there! t.